The V 20 hits 50mph tops, but any faster ?

[THEFERMANATOR]

I'm pretty sure a MERC 280HP 2.5L would push a V20 up into the 60 MPH spectrum. Then again the V20 is a fishing boat so why do you need to push it that far? The only reason I built up my 225 on my HYDRA was for economy, the added grunt was just a bonus. I knew that the lower cruise RPM's on that big looper would help keep the fuel sucking in check, and the porting let's it wind up easier as well to help out. The 225+HP at the prop is just a bonus for when I need to rocket the boat fully loaded on plane in 15 inches of water.

[RidgeRunner]

A bad stator and a long wait on parts have been slowing me down. Went to River Ranch this past Sat. Lots of nice rigs there "testing" top end. I took a good friend over to watch the hot boats. We put in at Port Hatcheneha and ran past River Ranch which is somewhere around 35 miles each way. The 250hp Merc pushed the 20' Center Console to 57.0 mph on the GPS turning the 21p Thunderbolt to 6000 rpm.(on the limiter) The conditions were less than perfect. Steady 20 gusting to 30 out of the east. Best number was seen running into a headwind of 15 with a light chop on a leeward side of an island, never saw that number again. It will go 55 in dead calm water and the prop never looses bite in heavy chop. With 600 lbs of people full of fuel and water, 94 quart igloo slap full and more tools than I normally carry just in case...
The handling of the boat was nothing less than predictable. A steady cruise at 4000 rpm put me at 38 mph. Very close to the 40 I was searching for. There is more speed in it if someone wanted to bankroll my efforts but I think the current setup and prop is good enough. Thanks to spare as he was correct on the prop. The motor was laying down on top end last time out due to the stator, I just didn't realize it.
Captpete is the winner, he guessed 56. pm forthcoming.

[spareparts]

Hey, I don't Pete has won just yet, I have yet to have a turn at the wheel(you did say it was insured, right?)

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by spareparts

Hey, I don't Pete has won just yet, I have yet to have a turn at the wheel(you did say it was insured, right?)

You know I'm not that far away from him. I managed to get my old PRO-LINE up from 47 tops to 59.7 with a prop change and driving it like a maniac. COuld have probably had gone faster, but the wife was screaming at me loud enough to be heard over almost 60 MPH winds and a 2.5L MERC XRI turning 5600 RPM's. Don't know what the big deal was about it, I only had the engine raised up 4 inches and enough trim that the bow was gliding. The only real wake was coming off the prop in a rooster tail.

[spareparts]

wonder how a 23 would spin on it(yeah, I know, leave it alone)

[RidgeRunner]

On the limiter again. The 250 EFI does have some moxy. It idles like it has a 3/4 race cam and I believe someone has tinkered with the tuner as it is pretty loud. Setup is near perfect but a prop change may squeek out a few more mph. Driving it like I stole it already Ferm.
Insurance? Well I could pay the insurance premium or I could buy a 23 and try it out. What do you think spare? LOL
The racers at River Ranch suggested a Rev4 to help keep the bow up. I will not sacrifice holeshot for top end but I may try something more after X-mas. It is a $$$$$ thing... I do not have any issues with porposing or handling, it never felt light until we got into some heavy chop at WOT. MPG was surprising, we logged 72 miles on the GPS and burned 26.5 gallons of premix for 2.7 mpg average. There was a lot of cruising at 25 to 30 mph due to the 2 to 3 footers we encountered running across lake Kissimmee. BTW the gimble style drink holders don't work in sloppy weather, soda everywhere.
We pulled up to the shore to watch the go-fast boats in the ditch and I was surrounded by v bottom superboats. I could not help but think that the old Wellcraft v20 steplift was the inspiration for many of the hulls that were there.

[nymack66]

Damm,
Ridge if it was not for that cooler of encouragement you loaded up I would have nailed it..Congratulations Capitan and good job Ridge ..

[THEFERMANATOR]

A REV4 shouldn't hurt your holeshot, if anything it will make it stronger. And it would be a much better prop for the lighter weight of the V-20 VS the MIRAGE.

[RidgeRunner]

Originally Posted by THEFERMANATOR

A REV4 shouldn't hurt your holeshot, if anything it will make it stronger. And it would be a much better prop for the lighter weight of the V-20 VS the MIRAGE.

Better holeshot you say, really? It gets up fast now.
What pitch should I try? The 21 Thunderbolt I have now is the Quicksilver clone to the Mirage. I have 11% prop slip when I plug in the numbers. The motor is as high as it needs to be, I can see the water rushing around the lower unit about 1/2" above the stock water pickup and well below the cav/vent plate. I can trim it out without losing bite or water pressure, when over trimmed it throws a nice rooster tail but speed don't come from there. The setup isn't far from optimal now, I am not totally handicapped, I have been rigging boats and prop testing since 1987, I just don't know squat about conversion from 3-blades to 4. Any ideas on how many rpm I will loose going to the 4-blade with the same pitch?

[RidgeRunner]

Originally Posted by nymack66

Damm,
Ridge if it was not for that cooler of encouragement you loaded up I would have nailed it..Congratulations Capitan and good job Ridge ..

You guessed 54, I needed another person in the boat or another giant cooler full of adult beverages... Thanks nymack.